Moonlight Mystique

"Xiao Bai? Are you calling a dog?"

Bai Shuo cursed inwardly but maintained a natural smile. "Sure, it’s friendly."

"Xiao Bai, here, this little thing is for you." Mu Fan casually handed the pig token to Bai Shuo. She reached out but froze mid-air, her face stiffening.

Oh no! This thing glows when she touches it! If this guy realizes the pig token is a treasure, he’ll definitely figure out she took advantage of the chaos last night…

"What? Don’t you like it?"

"No, of course not! This pig—this pig is so adorable~~" Bai Shuo awkwardly poked at it with her fingertips. "It’s really heavy, just set it down. I’ll take it later…"

Before she could finish, Mu Fan tossed the pig token toward her.

"Ahhh!" Reflexively catching it, Bai Shuo panicked and nearly flung it away—only to suddenly realize the token wasn’t glowing anymore.

Bai Shuo stared blankly, turning the token over in her hands. "It… it’s not…"

A flicker of surprise flashed in Mu Fan’s eyes before vanishing. "It’s not what?"

"I mean, it’s not heavy at all!" Switching gears, she quickly tucked the token into her robe, grabbed a wild fruit, took a bite, and handed one to Mu Fan. "Thanks for your kindness, Brother Mu! By the way, where are you from? Do you know where this place is? How did you end up kidnapped here?"

Mu Fan glanced at the fruit but eventually took it, twirling it in his hand. "I’m from the borderlands. I was heading to the capital to sell some medicinal herbs for my family when, yesterday, I passed by Mu Xiao Mountain and got robbed by bandits who dragged me here."

"Robbing people multiple times a day—how diligent!" Bai Shuo muttered under her breath. "Brother Mu, we’re in the same boat. I was also captured yesterday. I’ve heard of Mu Xiao Mountain before—it’s supposed to be near Wei City, just a barren hill. Strange… Last night, I saw this bandit hideout isn’t even that big, with at most a hundred outlaws. Wei City is wealthy and heavily guarded—how could they not wipe out such a small den?" Puzzled, Bai Shuo walked to the cave entrance and froze at the sight of towering trees blotting out the sky, the entire mountain teeming with life.

In the darkness of night and the chaos of fleeing, she hadn’t noticed. The Mu Xiao Mountain she saw from the official road yesterday was just a desolate stretch—a few small mounds and some withered trees. But this place… it was like another world.

"Yesterday, I—I…" Bai Shuo pointed outside, stammering, "The Mu Xiao Mountain I saw from the road wasn’t like this!"

"Really?" Mu Fan looked shocked and immediately stood to join her at the entrance. "I’m from the borderlands and have never been to the capital, so I didn’t pay much attention yesterday. Xiao Bai, maybe you misremembered? How could something so bizarre happen?"

"I definitely didn’t misremember…" Bai Shuo gazed up at the sky, where the blazing sun cast only scattered spots of light through the dense canopy.

"Last night, I realized this place is impossible to escape from. There’s definitely something strange going on…" Her face paled with fear. "Brother Mu, I—I’m scared…"Bai Shuo trembled with fear, tugging at the clothes tied around Mu Fan's waist. Noticing her terrified expression, Mu Fan narrowed his eyes slightly but still comforted her, "Don't be afraid. There are no such things as demons in this world. The bandits who captured us yesterday were just men. Since they live here without fear, they must know the way out of these mountains."

"Brother Mu, you're absolutely right!" Bai Shuo clapped her hands as realization dawned. "If we follow those bandits, we can leave this place. Let's hurry back to their hideout. Those greedy outlaws—judging by their frequency, they'll probably go down the mountain to rob again today."

"Alright." Mu Fan responded briskly, untying the clothes from his waist and putting them on. "Do you remember the way out from the hideout?"

"Though it was dark and the path was confusing, I carved marks on the trees when I left last night." Spotting a tree nearby with a moon-shaped mark she'd scratched with a stone, Bai Shuo rushed forward and pointed. "Look, here it is."

"Let's go then."

"Mm." Eager to proceed, Bai Shuo strode ahead while Mu Fan followed leisurely behind. With a subtle movement of his palm, a streak of silver energy darted into the depths of the forest.

The silver demonic energy weaved through the woods until it found a pack of wolves. Infiltrating their eyes, the wolves' gazes instantly gleamed silver as they surged toward Bai Shuo and Mu Fan's direction, startling countless birds into flight.

At the Mu Family Stronghold's training grounds, Zhang Chao paced anxiously when he suddenly noticed the distant commotion of birds scattering into the sky. His expression hardened. Wu Yong came running from the direction of the stronghold's gate, panting heavily.

"Big Brother! Did you see that? There's movement in the mountains!"

"No need to tell me. It must be those two brats. Gather the men—this time, we're bringing them back for sure."

"Yes, Big Brother!"

Meanwhile, outside Mu Xiao Mountain, Chong Zhao led the way on horseback with Fu Ling beside him. Behind them marched a formidable troop of well-equipped guards, numbering no fewer than five hundred.

"Miss Fu Ling, is this the place?" Chong Zhao pointed at Mu Xiao Mountain, raising his whip.

"Indeed. Though it was too dark that night, and I was unconscious, I vaguely recall seeing a young lady being taken into these mountains by a group of bandits. It must have been your sister."

Chong Zhao's eyes darkened with worry and anger. "How dare they lay hands on A-Shuo! I'll tear this mountain apart and slaughter those scum! Miss Fu Ling, you're still injured. Let me have someone escort you back to the city to avoid any harm when the fighting starts."

Fu Ling's gaze flickered. "Very well. But Young Master should be cautious of one thing when entering the mountains..."

"What is it?" Chong Zhao leaned closer as Fu Ling coughed weakly. "Miss Fu Ling, are you alri—"

Suddenly, Fu Ling turned and exhaled a wisp of smoke directly into Chong Zhao's face. The mist swiftly seeped into his eyes, and his clear gaze gradually dulled into confusion.

"The mountains are treacherous. Perhaps I should accompany Young Master after all. The stronghold's gate is hard to find—why not divide the men into fifteen groups to search separately? What do you think?" Fu Ling's voice was eerie as she stared intently at Chong Zhao.

"Very... well..." Chong Zhao murmured slowly before turning to his men. "By this order—into the mountains!"

"Yes!" None of the guards noticed anything amiss with Chong Zhao. They dispersed into the mountains with disciplined precision, leaving behind only the personal guards he had brought from the capital.Several purple shadows swiftly followed the departing guards, vanishing into the forest in an instant.

"Let's go, Young Master Chong." Fu Ling curled her lips, patted Chong Zhao's horse on the head, and leisurely led the group into the mountains.

Meanwhile, in the capital, at the Prime Minister's residence.

The teacup in Chong Tai's hand crashed heavily to the ground as he erupted in fury. "What did you say? That wretched brat transferred the Chong family guards from Weicheng?"

The steward trembled, not daring to lift his head. "The estate servants said the Young Master took the Prime Minister's private seal. They didn't dare disobey."

"Preposterous!" Chong Tai rose, sweeping his sleeves. "Go—go yourself to Weicheng and bring that beast back!"

"But the Young Master went to find Miss Bai. If he returns without finding her, it would be difficult to explain to General Bai..."

Chong Tai's expression stiffened before he let out a long sigh. "One after another, causing such trouble! I'll write a letter. Go to Weicheng and have Magistrate Zhao assist you. Bring both of them back safely."

"Yes, Your Excellency." As the steward turned to leave, Chong Tai spoke again.

"Remember, keep this matter discreet. If word gets out, our Chong and Bai families will become the laughingstock of the capital!"

"Understood!"

"By the way, where are you from, Brother Bai?"

Under towering ancient trees, bathed in lazy sunlight, Mu Fan and Bai Shuo walked through the forest, enveloped in an almost otherworldly tranquility.

"Me? My home's in a small village near Weicheng. Times are tough, so my father sent me south to find work and earn some silver for the family." Bai Shuo casually swung a twig in her hand, spinning a tale.

"Is that so?" Mu Fan faintly curved his lips, strolling leisurely.

Bai Shuo didn't quite catch his words. Turning back, she saw the youth smiling at her. "Since this is your first time away from home, I suppose you've never been to Mu Xiao Mountain before?"

Bai Shuo rubbed her arms. "This creepy place? I wouldn't come even if invited."

"Then when you were captured and brought into the mountains yesterday, did you encounter anything... strange?"

"Strange?" Bai Shuo halted, staring intently at Mu Fan, who stood with his lips slightly pursed and arms crossed, as if waiting for her answer.

"There was something!"

Mu Fan's brow twitched as he stepped closer. "Oh? What was it?"

"You!" Bai Shuo grinned. "Yesterday I was knocked out and brought into the mountains. When I woke up in the woodshed, there you were. Later, running from bandits in panic, I knocked myself out again—and when I came to, there you were again. Tell me, doesn't that make you a strange thing?"

Mu Fan was speechless, his mouth twitching.

Seeing his discomfited expression, Bai Shuo chuckled and patted his shoulder. "Alright, alright, I'll stop teasing you. Didn't meet anything strange in the mountains, but outside? Now that's a different story." Walking backward, her face grew indignant. "Yesterday I found a donkey in the countryside. Gave it good food and drink, hoping it'd take me south. But that ungrateful beast—at the first sign of bandits, it dumped me without a second thought and ran off! Wasted two pounds of my hay too! Brother Mu, tell me—how could a donkey be so lacking in martial virtue?"

Bai Shuo grew heated recalling the donkey, when suddenly Mu Fan stopped walking.

"What's wrong?" Bai Shuo looked puzzled.

"Is that... the one you meant?" Mu Fan nodded toward something ahead.Bai Shuo turned around and bumped into a pair of pitch-black, innocent eyes. The creature still had two unfinished stalks of dry grass dangling from its mouth.

The "unprincipled" donkey never dreamed that fate would reunite them so quickly. Trembling, it snorted loudly, rolled its big tongue, and swallowed the two stalks of dry grass in one gulp. Then, like a bolt of lightning, it spun around and bolted without a backward glance.

"Damn it! Stupid donkey, stop right there!"

Bai Shuo's eyes blazed with fury, completely forgetting about the bandit hideout as he mustered all his strength to chase after the donkey.

Through the mountain forest, packs of wolves and bandits simultaneously rushed toward Bai Shuo's direction.

Outside the mountains, Fu Ling and Chong Zhao stood together. Though Mortals couldn't see the illusionary barrier before them, Fu Ling knew they had already arrived at the true entrance of Mu Xiao Mountain.